Diffusion of Innovations
In 1962, sociologist Everett Rogers published Diffusion of Innovations. This book focused on his theory on new technologies and the manner in which they spread through different cultures. According to Rogers (1962), there are four factors that work to develop and infuse new ideas into society. These factors are the idea or innovation itself, they manner in which the idea is communicated, periods of time, and society. In essence, Rogers’ theory is the theory of change.
Diffusion of innovations focuses on the change in products, or material items, rather than a change in mankind (Robinson, 2009). The change that occurs is to provide a product that is better suited to the needs of the current time. In the area of education, technologies are changing constantly. New innovations are implemented in classrooms daily.
Over the past 25 years, educators have watched the transformation of the typewriter. At one time, the electric typewriter, fully equipped with correction tape, was the new wave. This “new” technology of the time was promised to save time and make life easier. Soon, the electric typewriter was replaced with the word processor. Once again promised to simplify life, the word processor was capable of doing much more than its predecessor. Documents could be saved and revised at a later time. Fonts could be easily changed in style and color. Text could be moved with the click of a button. Word processors progressed to desktop computers, adding more capabilities. Before long, desktops became lap tops, then tablets, and now hand held devices that not only have the ability to do everything the original typewriter could do, but with an abundance of more complicated and advanced applications designed to simplify life for and provide more information to today’s students.
The change and reinvention of an older technology has become common- place in our society. Anything that makes things easier to do, faster to complete, and provides immediate access to information is guaranteed to be a success.
References
Rogers, E. (1962). Diffusion of Innovations. Glencoe: Free Press.
Robinson, L. (2009). A summary of diffusion of innovations. Enabling Change.
Retrieved from http://www.enablingchange.com
In 1962, sociologist Everett Rogers published Diffusion of Innovations. This book focused on his theory on new technologies and the manner in which they spread through different cultures. According to Rogers (1962), there are four factors that work to develop and infuse new ideas into society. These factors are the idea or innovation itself, they manner in which the idea is communicated, periods of time, and society. In essence, Rogers’ theory is the theory of change.
Diffusion of innovations focuses on the change in products, or material items, rather than a change in mankind (Robinson, 2009). The change that occurs is to provide a product that is better suited to the needs of the current time. In the area of education, technologies are changing constantly. New innovations are implemented in classrooms daily.
Over the past 25 years, educators have watched the transformation of the typewriter. At one time, the electric typewriter, fully equipped with correction tape, was the new wave. This “new” technology of the time was promised to save time and make life easier. Soon, the electric typewriter was replaced with the word processor. Once again promised to simplify life, the word processor was capable of doing much more than its predecessor. Documents could be saved and revised at a later time. Fonts could be easily changed in style and color. Text could be moved with the click of a button. Word processors progressed to desktop computers, adding more capabilities. Before long, desktops became lap tops, then tablets, and now hand held devices that not only have the ability to do everything the original typewriter could do, but with an abundance of more complicated and advanced applications designed to simplify life for and provide more information to today’s students.
The change and reinvention of an older technology has become common- place in our society. Anything that makes things easier to do, faster to complete, and provides immediate access to information is guaranteed to be a success.
References
Rogers, E. (1962). Diffusion of Innovations. Glencoe: Free Press.
Robinson, L. (2009). A summary of diffusion of innovations. Enabling Change.
Retrieved from http://www.enablingchange.com